In the face of criticism from parks activists and skeptical taxpayers who feel they’ve been burned by government-funded cultural facilities, Miami Art Museum Executive Director Terence Riley doesn’t bat an eye. The museum’s proposed Bicentennial Park facility is just what the vacant green space needs to become vibrant, he says. And, he adds, pay no mind to the cost overruns that plagued the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts — careful planning and a vow to use taxpayer money last will make for an on-time, on-budget museum.

Mr. Riley does not deny challenges ahead. He says he is up to them. Appointed director last year after more than 15 years as a chief curator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Mr. Riley says he’s already begun to grow MAM’s permanent collection. He foresees a tremendous jump in visitor traffic once the more accessible, visible facility is built in tandem with a new Miami Science Museum facility. Mr. Riley was interviewed in his downtown office by Miami Today staff writer Risa Polansky. This is an excerpt from the weekly profile article published in Miami Today. To read the entire article in full, order this issue or subscribe to the print edition of Miami Today.